Trump's high-stakes Asia trip; photos show East Wing demolition complete
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The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the 12:30 Report newsletter SubscribeIn today's issue:
• Trump set to depart for Asia
• East Wing demolition is complete
• Annual inflation picked up in September
• Trump cuts off trade negotiations with Canada
• SNAP nears November deadline
• Social Security’s 2026 increase
🛫 IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Let’s take this party to Asia:
President Donald Trump gestures as he boards Air Force One to depart Al Udeid Air Base, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)President Trump is traveling to Asia this evening for his first visit since returning to the White House.
His schedule: Trump is flying to Malaysia tonight, arriving on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Malaysia). He will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
He will then fly to Japan to meet with the country’s new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. After his Japan stop, Trump will fly to South Korea to speak at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC).
Oh, and Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping while in South Korea.
Why this trip matters so much — AP put it well: “At stake is nothing less than the future of the global economy, which could hinge on whether he’s able to calm trade tensions during an expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A misstep could send shock waves through American industries that have already been rattled by Trump’s aggressive tariffs, government layoffs and political brinkmanship.”
➤ TIMING:
Trump said late Thursday that he’s cutting off trade negotiations with Canada, citing an ad campaign that used a 1987 radio address by former President Reagan.
He posted on Truth Social: “Tariffs are very important to the national security, and economy, of the U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
➤ THE LATEST COVER OF TIME:
Time magazine spoke with President Trump, publishing a cover story titled, “How the Gaza Deal Got Done.”
📸What a cool photo from photographer Stephen Voss
^ The White House is loving this visual. Reminder that the president knocked a “super bad” Time cover from 10 days ago, where he said the magazine “disappeared” his hair.
The demolition is complete:
Demolition of the White House’s East Wing was completed on Thursday to make room for President Trump’s 90,000-square-foot ballroom.
What was in the East........© The Hill





















Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Tarik Cyril Amar
Stefano Lusa
Mort Laitner
Robert Sarner
Mark Travers Ph.d
Andrew Silow-Carroll
Ellen Ginsberg Simon